Aaron Walker, a powerful and emotionally unavailable CEO, is engaged to Catherine Hayes, a sweet woman he admires but doesn't truly love. When Catherine falls gravely ill, she asks her younger sister, Sophia, to take her place and marry Aaron to protect family interests and help Aaron's business from a looming scandal. Sophia reluctantly agrees, thinking it will be a temporary arrangement. However, emotions become complicated when real love begins to develop between Aaron and Sophia. Along the way, they face challenges from a villainous cousin, corporate sabotage, and their own emotional walls. The novel follows their journey through heartbreak, separation, and eventual reconciliation, filled with romance, steamy moments, betrayal, and personal growth.
Sophia Hayes hadn't expected her life to change so dramatically when she received a late-night call from her older sister, Catherine. Sitting in the familiar surroundings of their family home, Sophia stared in disbelief as Catherine, pale and weak from her illness, laid out a plan that sounded more like a nightmare than a solution. Catherine, once vibrant and the light of every room, was supposed to marry Aaron Walker in a few weeks.
Aaron, the cold and calculating CEO of Walker Industries, was a man Sophia had met only a handful of times at family gatherings, and she had always felt an underlying tension between him and her sister. Now, Catherine was too ill to go through with the wedding. But it wasn't just a wedding-it was a business transaction, a union that was supposed to stabilize their families and protect Aaron's company from public scrutiny.
"Sophie," Catherine's voice trembled, as she held Sophia's hand tightly. "I need you to marry Aaron in my place. He can't afford a scandal right now. The merger, our family's business...it's all at stake." Sophia recoiled at the idea. Marry her sister's fiancé? It sounded absurd. She had never seen Aaron as anything but a distant figure, someone wrapped up in his empire. But as Catherine's pleading eyes locked with hers, Sophia felt the weight of obligation settle over her heart. It wasn't just about Aaron. It was about protecting their family's interests and giving Catherine the time she needed to recover from her illness. Sophia, though independent and strong-willed, couldn't help but feel trapped by the circumstances.
She sighed deeply, her mind racing. "I can't believe you're asking me to do this, Catherine," she whispered, her voice full of hesitation. "Aaron will never agree to this. He's...he's not the type to bend to something so crazy."
Catherine squeezed her hand harder. "He needs you. He'll listen. At least talk to him. Please."
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."